If you’ve seen Parks & Rec you’re familiar with Donna and Tom’s special day where they go all out, regardless of expense, to treat themselves.
If your goal this year is to eat better, exercise more or generally be more healthy, you may be trying to figure out how to “treat yourself” for staying on track. We all like to reward ourselves for a job well done. And while a pat on the back can definitely help keep you motivated, rewarding yourself with food or blowing your budget with an expensive shopping trip might either set you back or be impossible to keep up with. How do you keep motivated if you can’t reward yourself the way you have been? Obviously life is all about moderation and living life to its fullest so we’re not saying don’t eat the occasional treat or do things that are nice for yourself. Instead we are saying when it comes to health, food and fitness goals, making it a part of your lifestyle and turning your focus inward can help make sure that this year, your goals stick.
Movie or book night
Go to the movies with a friend or simply stay in and indulge in a movie or book night at home. If you’re trying to workout more or prepare more of your meals from scratch, you may not have the same time as you once did you kick back and relax on the day to day (which is great! The more you’re moving the more you’re burning). But use this as an excuse to take an evening, maybe once a week, to sink into the couch without any remorse, enjoy the stillness and just relax.
Home spa day
Give yourself a mani/pedi; get all the supplies they use at the salon, review a tutorial and do it like the professionals do, but at home. Go all out with a moisturizing homemade face and hair mask, pluck your eyebrows if they are getting overgrown, wax your bikini area….whatever you need to do to take care of you. You can tailor it to how relaxing you want it. Nothing feels better than the way you feel after you take a night to clean yourself. Combine that with the way you’re feeling from all your new life changes and you’ll feel like a million bucks.
Clean out your closet
As a reward to yourself, start going through your closet and cleaning out all the things that don’t fit you right anymore. If it’s too loose or doesn’t flatter your new figure, put it in a bag to donate. Not only will your closet feel lighter but it will be a nice reminder of how good of a job you are doing to see clothes that used to fit you snugly, now feel loose. By donating them as opposed to hanging on to them “just in case” you are letting go of your former, less healthy lifestyle and are showing yourself that you are committed to new habits you have created.
Take a moment to notice yourself.
You don’t have to clean your closet to take a moment to appreciate the positive changes you see in your body. Every now and then, take a few minutes after getting out of the shower to notice the results of your hard work. Compliment yourself as you would a friend on what you see such as “Your arms are starting to look more toned!” or “I can tell your skin is glowing!”
No matter what you do, love yourself girlfriend!
– Erica & Brooke
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Treating yourself every once in a white is such a great thing! I personally love home spa days as you suggested – I’m all about Lush bath bombs!
Annessa
http://www.seekingsunshine.com
You guys are the cutest!!!! I LOVE that Parks and Rec episode – definitely one of my favorites…love all of your ideas to treat yo-self – such a great post and it definitely made me smile 🙂 Thanks for hosting!
Sarah Bell
Trendy & Tidy
Love this message!! Such great ideas for treating ourselves and hence keep the motivation going to keep up the hard work and dedication. You’re both dolls inside and out!!
I love all of these ideas – especially taking a moment to notice ourselves!
Jill
Doused In Pink
These are great tips to help you stay on track and feel rewarded! I just love taking an hour to read a good book!
Love these tips!
Great ideas!! It is amazing how we reward ourselves with the same thing we are trying to not do!!
jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
I love the idea of treating yourself, and these are such great ways to do it!
Rachael
http://www.threadsforthomasblog.com
I love the closet clean-out idea. I’ve been slowly taking things out, but I need to focus and go BIG on it!
–Roxanne
Glass of Glam
I am in with the closet edits all the way down to earrings !
Really great thoughts on how we can treat ourselves. I love home spa days!
Very good ideas on how to treat ourselves. I like doing my nails, I don’t have time to go to the salon, so when I can do them myself it always make me feel good with fresh polish on.
Such a great inspirational post! 🙂 Cleaning out and organizing, a spa day at home and also reading does give me feel good vibes! I need to do the last one, in noticing myself in a positive light more often!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
I need to do some of these great ideas. <3
Life is just Rosie
Instagram
Oooh, I love your goals! I also have similar ones with health (starting soon I promise LOL) and already underway with the closet cleaning! I also want to start an informal book club with my friends 😀
Characters & Carry-ons
I’m definitely working on my health this year, and trying not to shop for a few months. Love these tips!
I’ve often thought about this before. My traditional ways for rewarding myself are often counter productive to my goals. These are good ideas.
Amy Ann
Straight A Style
Love those!! They are the best!
You are too sweet!! So glad we could make you smile!! 🙂
Thanks so much Andrea! You are just the sweetest, always!
Yeah! Gotta love on yourself! 🙂
Me too!! It’s such a stress reliever!
Thanks Carrie!
Thanks Jodie!!
Thanks so much Rachael!
It feels so good to get streamlined and clean the clutter, but I’m the worst at doing it!!
Woo you go!! I love that!
They’re the best!! I always feel good because I’m treating myself but also because I saved money by giving myself a manicure vs. paying for it!
Me too girl!! I make it to the salon maybe once a year, on my birthday! ha!
Thanks Carrie!! I know I struggle with noticing myself positively the most, it’s hard to not nit pick yourself apart!
Thanks Rosie! I hope you do!
That sounds great Joyce! I’ve thought about a book club myself, I always want to talk about the books I read with someone!
That’s great Lana! I’m on my own personal journey to quit shopping so much (Brooke) thank to Erica’s project less waste this year, she has inspired me!
I love rewarding myself the most with a good old lazy day, I always feel so guilty if I’m not up doing something, so just lounging around reading or whatever always feels great!
Great tips!! Thanks for sharing!
Adi xx
fancycorrectitude.com
instagram.com/fancycorrectitude
A home spa day sounds perfect!
http://www.jeannieinabottleblog.com
such a great post!!
http://www.londonstylegirl.com
I like the sound of the home spa day!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
You’re welcome! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
There’s just something so relaxing about them. 🙂
Thank you so much!
Yay!! Do it 🙂